|
|
|
Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry
EXTREME MAKEOVER
Cosmetic dentist Dr. Debra King is working her magic in Hollywood as part of the 'dream team' of doctors on ABC's hit series "Extreme Makeover."
Dr. King is the president of the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, often referred to as "the Ritz Carlton of Cosmetic Dentistry," and the recipient of international acclaim by the likes of The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Glamour, Time, USA Today and InStyle Magazine. But the spotlight really shone bright on Dr. King earlier in the year as she showed the dramatic possibilities of what cosmetic dentistry can do as she joined a renowned team of doctors and makeover specialists on the ABC Television Network series, "Extreme Makeover."
The show's premise revolves around the Cinderella-like transformation of selected viewers, via a "dream team" of doctors - a cosmetic dentist, a plastic surgeon, and an eye surgeon. Hair and makeup artists, stylists and personal trainers are also on board to provide the finishing touches.
Not surprisingly, given the nations' fascination with reality TV, the original one-hour special attracted an average of 13.2 million viewers and the spring series was such a hit that ABC has ordered a number of additional episodes for a full-time spot for their fall Thursday night line-up.
"Needless to say, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be on the show, because it gave me the chance to show what we do every day," says Dr. King, who was on the ski slopes during a family vacation in Utah when she received word she'd been selected. "My cell phone was in my ski pack … I had to stop on a dime and peel off my gloves in order to get to the phone. It came as a complete shock," she adds, with a laugh.
Many, if not most, of the show's guests want to change their appearance in a number of ways. But with Dr. King's first patient, her teeth were her number one concern. Evelyn, a mother of three from Florida, struggled with her smile her entire life. Evelyn presented with a large diastema between teeth numbers 8 & 9. "She had a large gap between her two front teeth," noted Dr. King. "We were able to close the gap by placing porcelain veneers on the anterior teeth.
In addition, Evelyn's axial inclination from canine to canine was skewed. Her arch form and buccal corridor were close enough to ideal in Evelyn's case that Dr. King decided she would benefit most from six veneers. Due to the crooked arch form from 6-11, Evelyn also presented with gingival asymmetries, so gingival contouring was also treatment planned. Also, Discus Dental's Zoom in-office whitening system was done prior to the final shade selection. Evelyn wanted a very natural shade so a true B1 shade was chosen, to be fabricated with feldspathic porcelain by Danny Materominini, Master Ceramist from da Vinci Dental Studios.
"The results were so dramatic that when she saw herself for the first time in the temporaries, she cried," said Dr. King.
Dr. King's second patient, Sharon, had yellow, crooked and chipped teeth.
Sharon, a wife and mother, has an identical twin. Although they shared many similar features, Sharon felt she was compared less favorably to her sister, who was viewed as the 'pretty one.' Dentally, Sharon presented with a narrow arch, discolored teeth and uneven wear throughout. Dr. King believed Sharon would benefit most from increasing the negative space in her buccal corridor. By bonding porcelain veneers, Dr. King felt she would be able to broaden, whiten and straighten Sharon's smile.
Dr. King treatment planned Sharon for ten veneers in order to build out her arch and to get complete control of her shade. Sharon wanted her teeth to be much whiter too, so Dr. King ordered a B1+ shade in feldspathic from da Vinci Dental Studios. Sharon also had concerns with the alignment of her lower teeth. Orthodontic movement was chosen as the treatment of choice and an orthodontic retainer was made for these movements. Sharon and Dr. King also agreed that her lower teeth should be whiter as well, so Sharon underwent Zoom whitening.
Sharon recently sent Dr. King a note that of all the procedures she had done, she was getting the most compliments on her new smile. Said Dr. King, "It's so gratifying to be able to change people's lives for the better."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
